The ratio of exports to imports in Türkiye’s employment, export and technology-oriented free zones was 152 percent last year. The trade volume of Türkiye’s 19 free zones amounted to 27 billion 691 million dollars last year.
According to the information compiled from the data of the Ministry of Trade, the trade volume of 19 free zones hosting 2 thousand 91 companies, 524 of which are foreign companies, amounted to 27 billion 691 million dollars last year.
The Aegean Free Zone with 5 billion 955 million dollars, Mersin Free Zone with 3 billion 747 million dollars and the European Free Zone with 2 billion 859 million dollars provided the highest volume.
The imports of free zones, whose exports in 2024 amounted to 12 billion dollars, decreased by 14.8 percent last year compared to the previous year to 7.9 billion dollars.
The free zones’ foreign trade surplus of 3.2 billion dollars in 2023 increased to 4.1 billion dollars in 2024. Thus, the ratio of exports to imports in free zones last year rose to 152 percent.
Yusuf Kılınç, President of the Free Zone Founders and Operators Association (SEBKİDER), told press that free zones make significant contributions to the Turkish economy.
Stating that the majority of companies are production and export-oriented, Kılınç said, “There are nearly 99 thousand employees in our free zones. In the last 5 years, we have focused on increasing exports rather than trade volume. When we look at the last 10 years, we have doubled our trade volume and employment. We have ensured that SMEs in Turkey are more involved in the region and have more say in the export market.”
Kılınç emphasized that they will continue to contribute to the country’s economy by working export-oriented.
“Turkish industrialists come to free zones for exports”
Emphasizing that they also aim for sustainable foreign sales, Kılınç said:
“The added value per kilogram of products in free zones is above the average in Turkey. This year, we are targeting a trade volume of over 30 billion dollars and exports exceeding 12 billion dollars. We have the power and potential to do this. We have new regions to attract investors. Interest in free zones is increasing. OIZs in our country have developed significantly. Free zones are a gateway to export and we have serious incentives. Turkish industrialists come to free zones for exports. Thus, the ratio of exports to imports increased from 135 percent in 2023 to 152 percent in 2024.”
Faruk Güler, Chairman of the Executive Board of Aegean Free Zone Founder and Operator AŞ (ESBAŞ), said that the number of employment increased to 25 thousand.
Explaining that there was a difficult year as the increase in the exchange rate lagged behind the inflation rate, Güler said, “ESBAŞ’s trade volume in 2024 reached 5 billion 955 million dollars. Our exports reached 2 billion 912 million dollars with an increase of 3 percent.”
